LAKE COUNTY — President Donald Trump on Friday issued disaster declarations for 17 California counties including Lake County for damage caused by this year’s severe winter storms, leaving local government officials optimistic about wrangling recovery funds.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom had declared a state of emergency in 33 California counties earlier this year following record-breaking rainfall and strong winds that caused more than $100 million in flood damage to public roadways alone, according to releases from Newsom’s office.

Lake County estimated the damage to its public infrastructure in early March at about $3.75 million. It is not yet clear how much funding will be available to the county following the president’s declaration, which could open up funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

County staff said Tuesday that no new damage estimate has been made since the previous one of $3.75 million, noting that claiming reimbursement for the county’s “numerous recent disasters” has been prioritized over developing estimates.

“It is not possible, at this time, to know how much money the County and City of Lakeport will ultimately receive,” wrote Lake County staff. “There is no guarantee that our reported losses will be eligible for dollar-for-dollar reimbursement, but we greatly appreciate the availability of Federal Public Assistance.”

In order to get federal reimbursement monies, Lake County will depend on claims it has submitted through the California Office of Emergency Services. “Because of the volume of recent disasters for which claiming efforts are ongoing,” county staff wrote, “we are unable to reliably estimate the timeline.”

With much as yet undetermined regarding Lake County’s reception of FEMA funds, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson affirmed her gratitude to Gov. Newsom and Lake County’s federal and state political representatives.

“Securing any available federal reimbursements is an important element of our recovery, and the recent efforts of particularly Governor Gavin Newsom and his Office of Emergency Services staff, Congressman Mike Thompson, State Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry have been truly outstanding,” Huchingson wrote Tuesday.

Huchingson continued, noting that “The President’s recent Declaration makes funds available for damage to government infrastructure, and this provides important support to all Lake County residents.”

While public assistance funding—which is directed to government bodies—has been approved, individual assistance grants have not.

“FEMA Individual Assistance, from which many previous disaster survivors have benefitted, has not yet been approved for the California Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides of February 24-March 1, 2019,” Huchingson wrote. “County leaders and staff will continue to work with our representatives and other partners to support the recovery efforts of County residents, as opportunities become available.”

Aidan Freeman is an assistant editor covering local government, wildfire resiliency, cannabis and just about anything else for the Lake County Record-Bee. Before the Bee, Aidan covered local events for the Topanga-based Messenger Mountain News. When he's not writing, he's reading. Contact Aidan at (707) 900-2025.